Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-03-25

or the enterprlsing Captain Smith was
miraculously saved fro'l death by sudden
inspiration of love in the glowing heart of
| Poc8 hontas. Mcclellan had lust begun
an ingenious theory of his own descent in
a direct line from this lovely Indian prin-
cess, when, fortunately perhaps for him
his genealogical demonstration was cut
short by the simultaneous arrival of two
of our columns deploving from the forest,
one of the transports laboriously ascend
ing the river For two days the banks of
the Pamunkey resembled the wharves of a
usby town on the Mississippi Suddenly
the spell was broken, and naught remain
ed to mark the secene of so much activity
but blackened Goals and empty food cans.
We kept on, and in spite of the sloWnesS
of our movements got near enough to the
Confederate capital to wonder at the
manner in which the enemy seemed to
have abandoned its approaches. We had
lost all trace of the foe, and it was only at
Meadow Bridge on the Chickahominy
that we had an opportunity to exchange
shots.
The commanding general was not free
from carking cares. And again the cause
came from Washington. On the 18th of
May, while the cavalry was engaged in
securing difficult position on the Chcka-
hominy, dispatches from the president an
nounced the defeat of Banks at Winches-
ter, revealed the absurd panic that had
seized the government at Washington
and directed Mcclellan to abandon every
thing and lead back the army to the banks
of the Potomac. Il think that if you can
not soon enter Richmond you must girC
up the job, and come to our defence. "
These were the words of Mr.. Lincoln
| Mcclellan knew there were at least three
times as many troops about Washington
as were necessary to defend it, and that
the Confederates would not dare to at
tempt an attack. One may imagine then
the spirit in which he contemplated the
presidents putting an end to an elaborate
! offensive campaign and arresting the
blow that should carry the war into the
enemy's country, transport its seat from
the environs of our own capital to that of
the Confederates. There was but one
course to pursue, and that was to pay no
attention to the despatch. Mcclellan
coolly put it into his pocket Two days
later he received from Washington the
most reassuring messages. Still, conf
dence had not been entirely restored on
this point. Though they did not regard
themselves as being in any real danger,
the authorities directed him to take the
precaution of destroying the railroad
bridges of Gordonsville and of Fredricks-
burg on the North Anna river, lest the
enemy should make a new movement on
Washington. 1t was by these very bridges
that Mcdowell must cross to Fredercks-
burg in order to reinforce us in front of
Richmond. To burn them was to cut off
communication with Mcdowell. But the
order was formal in its terms. Possibly
Mcclellan was by no means loath to delay
the coming up of a rival who seemed
about TO appear at the last minute, and
might lay claim to success which we alone
had laboriously prepared What mortal
man could dveSt himself entirely of such
feelings. However this may have been,
the two bridges were burned according to
orders on the 9th of the month. In CON
nj pat r1p t1 IN
John Porter, Mcclellan secured to that
officer the opportunity for a brilliant sue
cess at Hanover Court House.
Three days later we fought very uneX-
pectedly the Battle of Fair Oaks. For "a
hours, without inteunission, both armies
were deluged with rain. The thunder
rolled Increasingly, and eight of our men
were killed by lightning. The roads be-
came soaked and impossible for either
wagons or horses. Torrents of muddy
water ran through the narrow valleys into
the Chickahomlny, which rose rapidly.
The few natives who had remained with
us predicted an inundation during the
night General Mcclellan, whose health
had been sadly shaken by his typhoid i'll
ness. could not Withstand the rapid and
great changes of temperature nor the ia
tigues of body and mind which the situa-
ton imposed. Our camps were ravaged
by dysentery. HN himself was attacked
by this malady, which depletes the strong
est physques, but sought to conceal his
weakness and sufferings. Toward mid
day, on the 3lst, the wind blowing gale
and bowling through the trees, we heard
noise that was not thunder. We listen
ed attentively. 1t was the roar of cannon
Then came the rattle of musketry and
the pallid smoke the wind blew up from
the woodlands, left us no longer in sus-
pense. The enemy was vigorously push
ing our right wing posted on the other
SiI of no Eab nt In
hours the whole valley would be inundat-
ed and our army hopelssly cut in two
We supposed, naturally that Johston had
counted on this inundaton in choosing
the day and method of his attack. The
situation was more than serious. Every
one became lost in conjecture. 1t seemed
comprehensive, in spite of realizing
sense of the dire confusion that reigns on
the battle field, that for three honrs moth
ing had been heard from our left wing
To reach that part of our army it was
necessary to make avery wide dctour and
to cross the river at Bottoms bridge, the
fords being elsewhere impossible. Tele
graphic communication was not to be de-
pended on the damage done to the lines
by the storm had constantly to be repair
ed. Mcclellan mounted his horse and
rode rapidly to the banks of the Chcka-
hominy, in the hope of learning something
of what was going on, but disappointed,
he soon returned, and more anxious thau
ever, to be as near as possible to the tee-
graph. He despatched his aides de camp
in all directions. | myself went to Pro
fessor Low, requesting him to send me up
in a balloon, that | might personally re
connoitre the enemy's position. But Low
refused TO permit an ascent in such
wind. At last hurried dispatches from
Heintzelmann brought a confused and
alarming account of the beginning of the
battle. These dispatches cast deplora-
BILE and unmerited slur on Casey's troops,
who, surprised by greatly superior
force, had in reality yalantly defended
themselves. ! should here notice an Incl
dent that, earlier in the day, would have
warned us of the danger that threatened
onr army. In the midst of strong escort
of cavalry arrived an aide-de army of
Heintzelmann, bringing in handsome
young Confederate officer who was pre-
sented to us rs Lieutenant Washington
in no way believe, connected with the
Father of his Country" though he bore
the name. He was an aide of Johnston,
and, having lost his way during the fore
noon, had been captured by some of our
outposts on the left. There were no de-